Scientists are examining cow farts and burps in a novel bid to combat global warming.
Experts said the slow digestive system of cows makes them a key producer of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that gets far less public attention than carbon dioxide.
In a bid to understand the impact of the wind produced by cows on global warming, scientists collected gas from their stomachs in plastic tanks attached to their backs.
The Argentine researchers discovered methane from cows accounts for more than 30 per cent of the country's total greenhouse emissions.
As one of the world's biggest beef producers, Argentina has more than 55 million cows grazing in its famed Pampas grasslands.
Guillermo Berra, a researcher at the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, said every cow produces between 8000 to 1,000 litres of emissions every day.
Methane, which is also released from landfills, coal mines and leaking gas pipes, is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Scientists are now carrying out trials of new diets designed to improve cows's digestion and hopefully reduce global warming. Silvia Valtorta, of the National Council of Scientific and Technical Investigations, said that by feeding cows clover and alfalfa instead of grain "you can reduce methane emissions by 25 percent".
Comments (4)
Man the people at PETA are gonna be so torn over this. They hate global wamring and doing anything to animals. Maybe they'll commit mass suicide.
Posted by Drake | July 14, 2008 10:54 AM
Posted on July 14, 2008 10:54
Hopefully, the thing that is funny about this article is that it is totally straight. It isn't being reported as a joke, they actually think that,
COW FARTS ARE GOING TO DESTROY THE PLANET!
Posted by Elmer Beaureguard | July 14, 2008 12:39 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 12:39
Excuse me, but I'm from the government and am here to help you.
First, you need to file an environmental impact statement as to how your global warming will impact all living creatures from Aardvarks through at least Zebras. It must be submitted in sextuplicate to the various environmental agencies and should be peer reviewed and contain the data and an analysis of how you reached your conclusions based on that data. I would remind you that grammar and spelling will be checked because that gives us an idea of your intellect and will determines how we respond to you. After all, you cannot expect important and knowledgeable government officials to spend valuable time on people of lesser intellect.
Secondly, with regards to methane emitted by animals, you will need to submit detailed analysis of its properties. Until your grant for funding of the necessary laboratory is approved, we will grant you temporary license to use less than laboratory methods to analyze it. It is our suggestion that you pick someone with an enhanced smelling ability to use during the interim period. Documentation of such enhanced ability will be needed to approve that individual and all data will be subject to later review as to the accuracy of that individual's work. Any discrepancies will result in rejection of your application and will result in you having to start over.
Third, you will need to document how you intend to depose of the collected methane while your application research is being conducted. It is suggested that you document the potency of the flatulence of each specie examined and that you calculate in tons how each specie will affect global warming. The government will not accept such terms as, "It brought tears to my eyes," but insists that the actual active elements be properly calculated. We also expect you to indicate which animals you think would be most effective based on a combination of output, purity, and cost of raising such animals. In the event the government turns down your application for global warming, you must also develop a plan to cause a cessation of the production of methane by animals. And no, a cork will not be considered a proper plan.
It is your government's hope that this communication will aid you in your application.
Sincerely your,
Big Brother
Posted by Fritz | July 16, 2008 9:38 AM
Posted on July 16, 2008 09:38
Great Post!
That's the thing, once we decide that CO2 or methane are pollutants we are in a heap of trouble (pun intended).
Because nature cranks out way more CO2 and methane than mankind ever could. But we think we are in control of nature now, so we should get rid of cows, and if your getting rid of cows you should get rid of Blue Whales too.
Did you know that one Blue Whale emits 87 tons of CO2 annually? And there are over 5,000 Blue Whales on the earth, not to mentioin over 100 varieties of other whales.
I'm thinking of a new bumper sticker:
Stop Global Warming-Kill the Whales!
Some greeny weinies now are cutting down trees because they emit CO2. WHAT IS GOING ON? They could kill every living creature, eliminate all vegetation and the earth's temperature would still fluctuate because of the solar cycles.
Posted by Elmer Beaureguard | July 16, 2008 10:55 AM
Posted on July 16, 2008 10:55